18. S. JOHN THE EVANGELIST'S DAY. Gazing upward to the skies,. 3. Lord, for him Thy Name we bless; May we ever live to Thee, S. John the Evangelist's Day. "I, John, who also am your brother and companion in tribulation and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos." "He signified it by His angel unto His servant John: who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw."-Rev. i. 9, 1, 2. N exile for the Faith 20 AN Of his incarnate Lord, Beyond the stars, beyond all space, His soul unprison'd soar'd: 2. There saw in glory Him Who liveth, and was dead; 3. There Juda's Lion, and the Lamb There of the Kingdom learnt The mysteries sublime, How, sown in martyrs' blood, the Faith There the new City, bath'd 4. In her dear Spouse's light, 5 6 Pure seat of bliss, his spirit saw, Now to the Lamb's clear fount, To Jesus, Virgin-born, The Holy Innocents' Day "These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb."-Rev. xiv. 4. EARLY flowers of martyrdom ! 21 EA Whom the ruthless sword hath torn On the threshold of the morn, Rosebuds by the whirlwind shorn! 2. First to meet for Christ their doom, 3. What avails their early tomb? Moses sav'd from Pharaoh see, 5. Jesu, born of Virgin's womb, Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."-S. Matt. xviii. 3. 22 GLORY to Thee, O Lord! 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Who, from this world of sin, For now, all grief unknown, Baptiz'd in their own blood, They pass'd unconsciously the flood, Glory to Thee! for all The ransom'd infant band, Who since that hour have heard Thy call, . And reached the quiet land. O, that our hearts within, Like theirs, were pure and bright; O, that as free from wilful sin We shrank not from Thy sight! Lord, help us every hour Thy cleansing grace to claim; In life to glorify Thy power, In death to praise Thy name. Amen. The Circumcision. "There is none other Name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved."-Acts, iv. 12. 23 TIS IS for conquering kings to gain Jesu, Thy more glorious strife 2. Other Name hath none been giv'n 3. What the Lord so hardly wrought, Is not death, but victory. 5. Jesu, Thou dost condescend To be called the sinners' Friend; 6 Glory to the Father be, Prais'd by men and heav'nly host! Amen. "And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, His Name was called JESUS."-S. Luke, ii. 21. 24 NOW ancient shadows flee ; Let night and terror cease; Thy God, O earth, now makes with thee 2. He, Who is Light of Light, Bleeds to remove sad nature's blight, 3. He takes that sacred Name, At which we bend the knee; 4. To Him Who so much bore, Amen. "In Whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands."-Col. ii. 11 25 THE year begins with Thee, And Thou begin'st with woe, 2. Thine infant cries, O Lord, 3. Like sacrificial wine Pour'd on a victim's head, Are those few precious drops of Thine, 4. Now of Thy love we deem As of an ocean vast, Mounting in tides against the stream |